Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhonghua Ning, Cong Chen, Baoshan Cui, Yihui Zhang, Tian Xie, Qing Wang, Zhenchang Zhu, Junhong Bai, Tjeerd J. Bouma
Summary: Species range expansion induced by climate change and human activities can have negative impacts on native populations and communities. This study provides evidence that a range-expanding wood-borer moth heavily attacks a foundation plant species in salt marshes, impacting its recruitment and succession. The research also highlights the importance of maternal oviposition effects in range-expanding insects using novel host-plants.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Kadri Koorem, Rutger A. Wilschut, Carolin Weser, Wim H. van der Putten
Summary: The study found that soil communities from both original and new ranges have similar effects on the growth of range-expanding plants under conditioning and drought stress conditions. The impact of soil communities on plant growth increases after conditioning and under drought stress.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gaston J. Sotes, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, Susana Gomez-Gonzalez
Summary: This study compared the competitive ability of Centaurea melitensis individuals from Spain and Chile with a native plant, Helenium aromaticum. The results showed that C. melitensis had a competitive advantage over H. aromaticum, but there was no evidence of evolutionary increase in the competitive ability of the invader populations. The invasive potential of C. melitensis seems to be acquired through selective processes in their original range.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kirsten M. Prior, Dylan G. Jones, Shannon A. Meadley-Dunphy, Susan Lee, Alyson K. Milks, Sage Daughton, Andrew A. Forbes, Thomas H. Q. Powell
Summary: This study explores the mechanisms by which altered antagonistic interactions between native and recipient communities contribute to 'high niche opportunities' for a range-expanding insect. The results suggest that weak apparent competition may be a mechanism of enemy release for range-expanding insects embedded within generalist enemy networks.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio Archidona-Yuste, Thorsten Wiegand, Nico Eisenhauer, Carolina Cantalapiedra-Navarrete, Juan E. Palomares-Rius, Pablo Castillo
Summary: The study focuses on how environmental changes drive the homogenization of ecological communities, specifically looking at the diversity of soil nematodes. Results show that transitioning from natural to agricultural systems and increasing land-use intensity can significantly enhance the functional similarities of plant-feeding nematode communities.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Keli Li, G. F. (Ciska) Veen, Freddy C. ten Hooven, Jeffrey A. Harvey, Wim H. van Der Putten
Summary: Soils contain legacies that impact plant community biomass and aboveground biodiversity. Previous plant communities have a stronger effect on plant biomass than previous summer drought, and aphids are more affected by legacy effects than pollinators.
Article
Soil Science
Margot Brondani, Claude Plassard, Estelle Ramstein, Arthur Cousson, Mickael Hedde, Laetitia Bernard, Jean Trap
Summary: This study determined the effects of bacterial-feeding nematodes on soil bacterial communities and Pinus pinaster growth and nutrition. Traits were found to explain soil and plant function better than species identity or life strategy groups.
Article
Environmental Sciences
T. Stefanovska, A. Skwiercz, M. Zouhar, V Pidlisnyuk, O. Zhukov
Summary: Research on plant-parasitic nematodes inM. x giganteusplantations revealed the occurrence of various nematode species exceeding damage thresholds in multiple locations. The non-metric multidimensional scaling approach indicated spatial heterogeneity of sampling points and community dynamics, providing valuable information for assessing the state of the plantations with different years of cultivation. Further studies are needed to develop nematode-based biological monitoring for perennial grasslands in order to enhance the sustainability of bioenergy systems.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Noura Chihani-Hammas, Soledad Verdejo-Lucas, Najet Horrigue-Raouani
Summary: The aim of the study was to investigate the biochemical changes and plant nutrient alterations in roots and leaves of apple rootstock MM106 following nematode infection. In addition, the pathogenic potential of Pratylenchus vulnus at different inoculum doses was studied. The results showed that the enzymatic activities of POX, PPO, and APX increased in response to nematode infection in 3-month-old apple plants, while CAT activity decreased. The content of total protein and MDA increased but total phenols decreased in 3- and 36-month-old plants inoculated with 1000 or 5000 nematodes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jacob K. Moutouama, Orou G. Gaoue
Summary: The center-periphery hypothesis predicts a decline in population performance toward the periphery of a species' range due to environmental conditions. However, previous tests of this hypothesis failed to disentangle the role of geography and ecological niche, and focused primarily on temperate regions. Our study found that central populations have better demographic growth, survival, and fertility than peripheral populations, leading to higher growth rates in central populations. Furthermore, the growth rates of peripheral populations are more sensitive to perturbation of survival and growth rather than fertility. Soil properties play a significant role in driving population growth rate variation for narrowly distributed species.
Article
Forestry
Denis I. Dubrovin, Denis V. Veselkin, Andrei P. Gusev
Summary: This article investigates the effects of the North American tree Acer negundo L. invasion on plant species richness in different regions and confirms the invasional meltdown hypothesis. The study reveals a significant decrease in plant species richness in invaded plots and an increase in the proportion of alien species.
Article
Agronomy
Courtney G. G. Collins, Marko J. J. Spasojevic, Nuttapon Pombubpa, Jeffrey M. M. Diez
Summary: This study found that soil legacy effects of a native range expanding species can negatively affect the growth and community structure of native plants. These effects primarily manifested in the structure and function of soil microbial communities. Fungal diversity and community composition in the soil were the most important factors determining plant performance. These findings have important implications for the management of woody plant geographic ranges under global change.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Yui Nakabayashi, Issei Ohshima
Summary: Range expansions of host species can affect host-parasitoid interactions. In this study, the interaction between a myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly and its larval parasitoids in northern Japan was examined. The results showed that the host butterfly escaped from its traditional parasitoids in recently colonized areas, leading to a reduced attack rate from parasitoids.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Bin Zhu, Fangfang Huang, Ya Wang, Yan Liu, Qinke Wang, Qiaoqiao Huang
Summary: During range expansion, invasive plants may develop distinctive traits like rapid growth rate and high seed dispersal ability, allowing them to quickly occupy suitable and empty sites. However, little is known about the evolution of competitive ability and the changes in stand biomass during range expansion. In this study, the competitive ability and stand biomass of an invasive plant, Mikania micrantha, were examined along its invasion route on Hainan island of China. The results showed that competitive ability and stand biomass did not correlate with distance from the invasion center. However, stand biomass was negatively correlated with distance in habitats with thick soil layers, suggesting reduced performance of edge populations in such habitats.
Article
Ecology
Anna Florianova, Vera Hanzelkova, Lucie Drtinova, Hana Pankova, Tomas Cajthaml, Zuzana Munzbergova
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare plant-soil interactions in the native range of two congeneric European species differing in their invasive success in the world. The invasive species depleted more nutrients than the non-invasive species and coped better with altered nutrient levels. The invasive species had higher seedling establishment which benefited from the presence of unconditioned biota transferred by soil filtrate.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alejandro Berlinches de Gea, Yann Hautier, Stefan Geisen
Summary: Biodiversity, both aboveground and belowground, is negatively affected by global changes such as drought or warming. This article highlights the need to understand the relationship between soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning under the influence of interactive global change drivers. The results from scarce studies studying interactive effects range from antagonistic to additive to synergistic, indicating the importance of quantitatively accounting for the impacts of interactive global change drivers on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relationships.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesse J. Kupers, Basten L. Snoek, Lisa Oskam, Chrysoula K. Pantazopoulou, Sanne E. A. Matton, Emilie Reinen, Che-Yang Liao, Eline D. C. Eggermont, Harold Weekamp, Muthanna Biddanda-Devaiah, Wouter Kohlen, Dolf Weijers, Ronald Pierik
Summary: Although plants are immobile, they can respond to environmental cues by flexibly moving their organs. In dense vegetation, plants use far-red light perception to detect neighboring plants. They respond by growing asymmetrically on the leafstalk, resulting in upward movement of the leaves. The plant hormone auxin is required for this response, but its remote regulation of movement is not well understood.
Article
Ecology
Keli Li, G. F. (Ciska) Veen, Freddy C. ten Hooven, Jeffrey A. Harvey, Wim H. van Der Putten
Summary: Soils contain legacies that impact plant community biomass and aboveground biodiversity. Previous plant communities have a stronger effect on plant biomass than previous summer drought, and aphids are more affected by legacy effects than pollinators.
Article
Agronomy
Paola Rallo, S. Emilia Hannula, Freddy C. ten Hooven, Koen J. F. Verhoeven, Jan Kammenga, Wim H. van der Putten
Summary: This study investigates plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) between and within grass species. The results show differences in PSF effects between grass species, but limited variation within species. Additionally, potential microbial candidates that drive the observed PSF effects are identified.
Article
Ecology
Alena S. Gsell, Arjen Biere, Wietse de Boer, Irene de Bruijn, Gotz Eichhorn, Thijs Frenken, Stefan Geisen, Henk van Der Jeugd, Kyle Mason-Jones, Annelein Meisner, Madhav P. Thakur, Ellen van Donk, Mark P. Zwart, Dedmer B. Van de Waal
Summary: Parasite performance-response curves are expected to be broader than those of their hosts. However, certain environmental conditions may limit parasite performance more than the host, providing an environmental refuge from disease. Environmental disease refuges respond to global change and not just climate warming.
Article
Microbiology
Xia Li, Ruotong Zhao, Dandan Li, Guangzhou Wang, Shuikuan Bei, Xiaotang Ju, Ran An, Long Li, Thomas W. Kuyper, Peter Christie, Franz S. Bender, Ciska Veen, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden, Wim H. van der Putten, Fusuo Zhang, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Junling Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates that the cooperation between AMF and N2O-reducing Pseudomonas on hyphae significantly reduces N2O emissions. The presence of AMF enhances the abundance of N2O-reducing bacteria, specifically Pseudomonas, which leads to a decrease in N2O emissions. The organic acids exuded by hyphae not only attract Pseudomonas, but also stimulate the expression of the nosZ gene, promoting N2O reduction.
Article
Plant Sciences
Elias Pipinis, Stefanos Hatzilazarou, Stefanos Kostas, Rafaela Stagiopoulou, Konstantina Gitsa, Eleftherios Dariotis, Ioulietta Samartza, Ioannis Plastiras, Eleni Kriemadi, Pepy Bareka, Christos Lykas, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Nikos Krigas
Summary: In order to understand the effect of temperature on seed germination, we evaluated the germination responses of two endangered local endemic tulip species of Greece (Tulipa hageri Heldr., T. orphanidea Heldr.) at five constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 degrees C). The results indicated a range-specific temperature dependence in seed germination for both species, with germination observed only at very low temperatures (5-10 degrees C). The presence of complex morphophysiological seed dormancy was confirmed in both species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefanos Hatzilazarou, Elias Pipinis, Stefanos Kostas, Rafaela Stagiopoulou, Konstantina Gitsa, Eleftherios Dariotis, Manolis Avramakis, Ioulietta Samartza, Ioannis Plastiras, Eleni Kriemadi, Pepy Bareka, Christos Lykas, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Nikos Krigas
Summary: This study investigated the effect of temperature on seed germination of Greek tulip species. The results showed that the seed germination of the studied species had a range-specific temperature dependence. The seeds germinated only at low temperatures (5-15 degrees C).
Article
Plant Sciences
Eleftherios Karapatzak, Olga Dichala, Katerina Papanastasi, Ioannis Manthos, Ioannis Ganopoulos, Antonis Karydas, Anastasia V. Badeka, Ioanna S. Kosma, Dimitris Kyrkas, Paraskevi Yfanti, Nikolaos Nikisianis, Giorgos Patakioutas, Eleni Maloupa, Nikos Krigas
Summary: This study presents a multifaceted approach for the sustainable agronomic exploitation of four neglected and underutilized forest fruit trees and shrubs in Greece. The evaluation of the Greek germplasm and the feasibility and readiness timescale evaluation showed promising results, indicating the high exploitation potential of some species, especially Rosa canina and Sambucus nigra.
Article
Biology
Fotis Bilias, Anastasia-Garyfallia Karagianni, Ioannis Ipsilantis, Ioulietta Samartza, Nikos Krigas, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Theodora Matsi
Summary: This study collected plant and soil samples from 13 tulip species in Greece and found that soil variables significantly influenced tulip nutrient content. The study also revealed clear distinctions in nutrient content among tulip species from different geographic units, which may facilitate their domestication in artificial settings.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Andrea Pieroni, Gabriella Morini, Maria Piochi, Naji Sulaiman, Raivo Kalle, Shiekh Marifatul Haq, Andrea Devecchi, Cinzia Franceschini, Dauro M. Zocchi, Riccardo Migliavada, Julia Prakofjewa, Matteo Sartori, Nikos Krigas, Mushtaq Ahmad, Luisa Torri, Renata Soukand
Summary: This study documents the ethnobotanical knowledge of wild greens in Ikaria Isle, Greece, through interviews and provides insight into their culinary uses and tastes. The findings show a similarity between the wild greens in Ikaria and those in other areas of the central-eastern Mediterranean, particularly in terms of bitter-tasting botanical genera. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving and documenting the bio-cultural gastronomic heritage of Chorta as part of the Mediterranean diet, and recommends further attention from nutritionists, food scientists, historians, policymakers, and practitioners.
Article
Agronomy
Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou, Anastasia Karioti, Giorgos Tsirogiannidis, Nikos Krigas, Helen Skaltsa
Summary: The present study investigates the metabolic profiling of several Stachys species using NMR and HPLC-PDA-MS techniques. Specific compounds were identified in different species, with chlorogenic acid being one of the main metabolites. The findings complement previous studies and provide the first metabolic characterization of certain species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aphrodite Tsaballa, George Kelesidis, Nikos Krigas, Virginia Sarropoulou, Panagiotis Bagatzounis, Katerina Grigoriadou
Summary: Molecular DNA barcoding combined with botanical taxonomy was used to identify and conserve Greek orchids used for salep production. The results showed that the combination of ITS and matK had a greater capacity to identify the species among the Greek salep samples.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rutger A. Wilschut, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Ekaterina Mamonova, Mark van Kleunen
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of generalist soil biota in driving plant-soil feedback interactions between succeeding plants. The study examines the contributions of specialist and generalist plant antagonists to plant-soil feedbacks among different species of grassland plants. The results show that annual plants exhibit more negative plant-soil feedbacks compared to perennial plants, but the feedback responses do not differ between conspecific and heterospecific plants.
Article
Microbiology
Daniel J. Wieczynski, Kristin M. Yoshimura, Elizabeth R. Denison, Stefan Geisen, Jennifer M. DeBruyn, A. Jonathan Shaw, David J. Weston, Dale A. Pelletier, Steven W. Wilhelm, Jean P. Gibert
Summary: We provide a roadmap for understanding the impact of viral infections within microbial food webs on ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling in the context of global warming. Microorganisms play a crucial role in carbon and nutrient cycles and act as a link between ecosystems and climate. However, viral infections within complex microbial food webs pose a significant challenge in predicting and understanding ecosystem responses to warming. We highlight the need for further research on virus-microbe-temperature interactions and their effects on ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)